Nursing Jurisprudence

PATIENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS

1. The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care, irrespective of socio-
economic status.

2. The patient has the right to obtain from his physician complete current information
concerning his diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms the patient can reasonably
be expected to understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information
to the patient. The information should be made available to an appropriate person in his
behalf. He has the right to know by name or in person, the medical eam responsible in
coordinating his care.

3. The patient has the right to receive from his physician information necessary to give
informed consent prior to start of any procedure and or treatment. Except in
emergencies, such information for informed consent should include but not necessarily
limited to the specific procedure and or treatment, the medically significant risks
involved, and the probable duration of incapacitation. Where medically significant
alternatives for care or treatment exist, or when the patient requests information
concerning medical alternatives, the patient has the right for such information. The
patient has also the right to know the name of the person responsible for the procedure
and/or treatment.

4. The patient has the right to refuse treatment/life-giving measures, to the extent
permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequence of his action.

5. The patient has the right to every consideration of his privacy concerning his own
medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment are
confidential and should be conducted discreetly. Those not directly involved in his care
must have the permission of the patient to be present.

6. The patient has the right to expect that all communication and records pertaining to his
care should be treated as confidential.

7. The patient has the right that within its capacity, a hospital must make reasonable
response to the request of patient for services. the hospital must provide evaluation,
service and or referral as indicated by the urgency of care. When medically permissible
a patient may be transferred to another facility only after he has received complete
information concerning the needs and alternatives to such transfer. The institution to
which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer.

8. The patient has the right to obtain information as to any relationship of the hospital to
other health care and to other health care and educational institutions in so far as his
care is concerned. The patient has the right to obtain as to the existence of any
professional relationship among individuals, by name who are treating him.
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9. The patient has the right to be advised if the hospital proposes to engage on or perform
human experimentation affecting his care or treatment. The patient has the right to
refuse or participate in such research projects.

10. The patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care; he has the right to
know in advance what appointment times the physicians are available and where. The
patient has the right to expect that the hospital will provide a mechanism whereby he is
informed by his physician or a delegate of the physician of the patient’s continuing
health care requirements following discharge.

11.The patient has the right to examine and receive an explanation of his bill regardless of
source of payment.

12.The patient has the right to know what hospital rules and regulations apply to his
conduct as a patient.